RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. This Day. (Before H. S. Wardell, Esq., R.M.)

Evening Post, Volume XV, Issue 212, 10 September 1877, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. This Day. (Before H. S. Wardell, Esq., R.M.)

AN UXFdRTUXATE SPREE. A respectable-looking man named Edward Flax was charged with having been drunk and assaulting Constable Phair on Saturday night in Johnston-street, near the Theatre. It appeared from the evidence of the constable that the accused was in a very drunken state, and even assaulted his wife, who was with him at the time. The accused had nothing to say in his defence further than that he had taken a drop too much on Saturday night before going to the Theatre, and having been a teetotaller for over nine months back, it had, unfortunately, had considerable effect on him. The constable stated that he was very violent and struck him a blow on the mouth on the way to the station. The accused was fined £2 for the assault on his wife and £1 for assaulting the police, or in default one month's imprisonment. The wife of the accused was likewise charged with having been drunk and disorderly. It appeared that after her husband was locked up she followed him to the station and made a great disturbance in her endeavors to get him bailed out. She positively denied the charge of drunkenness, but admitted that she was very excited at the time, her husband never having used her so before, and as she wished, if possisle, to get him home to his family. She called a respectable married couple, who had seen her shortly before, and they both testified to her having been then perfectly sober. This appeared to be the correct version of the case, and tho anxious wife who had got herself into trouble through protecting her husband was accordingly discharged. One of the witnesses called in her defence afterwards appealed to the Court to have the fine oh the husband reduced, as he was a respectable working man with a family of children, and he could not afford to pay it. The fine was accordingly reduced to a £1, which this friend of the accused accordingly paid. A third charge of disorderly conduct, arising out of this unfortunate spree, was likewise called on, but the delinquent, William Jones, who had been out on bail in the sum of £1, did not appear, and his bail was ordered to be forfeited. It appeared he had been making himself very conspicuous at the gate of the station, and", though repeatedly cautioned, refused to go home, when lie was accordingly locked up to his cost. MORE DRINKING. An old woman, named Mary Pimble, was charged with having been drunk and incapable in the street on Saturday night. She was a harmless old body, and had been locked up for her own safety, and, having been ißeked up since Saturday ~night, she was accordingly discharged. Louis Entiens, an aged Frenchman, was charged with having been drunk ou Lambton Quay early on Sunday afternoon. He tried to get off with the excuse that he was unable to walk with a sore foot, but as there was no mistaking his case he was fined 20s, or in default 43 hours' imprisonment. STEALING A DOG. An elderly man named John Freeman was charged with having stolen a dog fouud in his possession on the previous day. It appeared from the evidence of Constable Sullivan (the arresting constable) that the accused had told different stories as to how he became possessed of the dog, and as none of them were correct, he accordingly locked him up. The accused strenuously denied stealing the animal, and stated that he had paid 4s for it, and did not think it was any business of the police to inquire as to where he had got it. He merely asked the Bench what redress he would get from the police if he could prove his statement correct. The Bench referred him to his solicitor, a course which he showed was rather hard upon a man who had no money to pay the fee. He stated he could find bail, and bring forward evidence, and with his consent the case was accordingly remanded for a week to enable him to prove 6is honesty.